So the wife thinks "every car looks the same but a mini is something I would actually take pride in." I was looking at the mini S today and I have to say, its bloody fast if you drive it right. Although she doesn't want to drive a stick. They have an automatic version of the mini S but I'm not sure it'll be as fast as the 6 sp. There isn't a classic BMW double clutch option so i'm lost at what to do. Should I get her a mini and blow the $31,000 or convince her to get something else? I tried the Lexus 350 on her but she doesn't like it...

Had the 2nd year S model. Wife wanted it the second they advertised it. I had a handful of the originals as well.

Was a fun little car... Great to drive.. other than being front wheel drive, was the best driving car I've ever owned. Even with the typical south american/german quality issues, it still at the time had the highest owner loyalty. Its a lovable little car. Till you need to change the accessory belt. Requires removing inner fender. I've never driven the turbo, but the SC model 6 speed was the only way to go in 2003? whatever.

The thing was quick, but not so quick you'd run out of road before it got fun. You got real neck snapping effect if you just hit 60 then floored the brakes. When I first got it I took a friend from work for a ride. with 2 200 lb guys in it.. the acceleration was nice but not "wow". Then I jumped on the brakes. It feels like your face is going to peel off. You CAN'T keep your head on the head rest without bracing against the dash. Plenty of room in the front seat, but no back seat at all if you're over 5'5". The fronts slide right into the back seats when at full "back".

When I say it was the best driving car I've owned.. I've owned a lotus elise, corvette, several GTOs including the new one, which I modified heavily for sport driving, sunbeam tiger.. all kinds of things. Some were more fun, but not because they handled better. Fast cars are only fun if you have a track to drive them on.

GEt her the prosthetic leg she's missing and get the 6 speed. If you can't drive 6 speed, you aren't coordinated enough to be on the road. If its a matter of liking auto vs manual.. Get a hyundai, because obviously she doesn't like driving anyway and some of the new ones are probably cute to women and save like 20k. My wife won't drive an automatic. "what's the point" is her motto... and she doesn't even like cars.

Well she CAN drive a stick as I used to have a MK2 MR2 turbo and her honda is a 5sp. The one i was looking at was a 2009 supercharged Mini. But shes stuck on those damn paddle shifters... Although the thing thats poisoned her is my room mate has a new M3 and it has a double clutch. She loves it and thinks that all paddle shifters are the same but their not!!! The m3 auto is faster then the standard but not this mini ya know?

Well the BMW 335d was on the top of the list but again she says "its too popular" so i'm stuck. I mean its her car so I cant really put too much of my foot down. But I do have some power. My roommate works for BMW so I have that going for me!

a used BMW is .. 1st.. a used m3 is kind of trashy.. used luxury cars are .. kind of ghetto. I don't know why.. ..well I do.. but its unkind.

2nd used bmws are a bad Idea.. they're kind of junky.. I hear they pushed out the warranties.. but how old you goin on the m3? QUite a few grenades a few years ago. Of course that's based on my experience.. a bmw mechanic I am not, but I apparently belong to a group of people that just loves buying used bimmers.. Last one traded her 330ci for an elantra this week.
EDIT: my brother has a 2002.. I might consider putting up with it.. its fun to drive.

I actually borrowed a lexus? Infinity? Forget which, a while ago with a paddle shifter. It wasn't too bad. I didn't push it too hard, it was borrowed. There are sport paddle shifters I'm told, vs the typical faux sport paddles.

I think the new m3 is using like an f1 gear box.. its really shifting gears on shafts using actuators in a sequential box. I bet the mini is shifting clutches like an automatic. Which is fine for drag racing, but not for sport driving.

unless I'm actually competing for speed and there's some awesome paddle shifter out there, I'll always want to be using the clutch. Frankly ABS takes some of the fun out, and traction control.. PFFF ugh..

I'll drive the car myself thank-you. Its that salesman's pitch of numbers.. its a .3 second shift.. who cares.. if you're not the one doing it. Congratulations mr engineer.. you shift fast. It reflects nothing on your driving.

I've had more fun driving my wife's scion than any sports car I've owned recently, because the scion "sucks". There's nothing to it. If I want to come off the off ramp at 50 mph, I have to set the car just right before entering that corner or It won't make it. Chuck the weight over, shift down, power through, grab the next gear on that rise so you can power the wheels into the ground on the down side, you're not driving unless the tcs light is flashing.. Not that I do this all the time.. i'm not generally reckless.. but given a nice open stretch of curves...

Well the BMW 335d was on the top of the list but again she says "its too popular" so i'm stuck. I mean its her car so I cant really put too much of my foot down. But I do have some power. My roommate works for BMW so I have that going for me!

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Sure mini is BMW owned.. but I find, dollar for dollar, the mini has more smiles in it..
Get a cheap bimmer and you'd wish you'd just got the mini.. get an expensive one and its too fast for public road use.

really? Thought they only made em for a few..
sonufabitch.. yea.. just googed it.. first hit "2009 used s2000" Must not be popular around here. Roads totally blow. Probably undrivable.. see few miatas as well.